Name Of Man Killed In Elizabeth House Explosion Released

ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Officials have released the name of the man who died in a house explosion in Elizabeth on Wednesday.

Police say 24-year-old Femi Brown lived on the second floor of the duplex that was leveled "like a pancake" in the blast. There is no word on the cause of death.

PHOTOS: Elizabeth House Explosion

Two people, including an 11-year-old, remain in critical condition with burns.

City spokeswoman Kelly Vence on Thursday said officials have not yet determined what triggered the explosion. Mayor Chris Bollwage on Wednesday said gas was believed responsible.

In all, 14 people were taken to hospitals. Sixteen people were pulled from the wreckage.

Two other homes also sustained damage. All three buildings will likely have to be torn down, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.

Neighbors were left in shock by the blast.

"I come outside, and the building fell down," said Mike Williams. "Like a tornado hit it. It just fell down."

Kayon Pryce, who lives next door, said the force of the blast knocked him out of bed.

"I was in bed on a phone call," he said. "My bed actually got tossed up. The phone flew out of my hand. The windows came shattering in." He said a television set also hit him in the face.

David Gonzalez said he felt the blast in his home four blocks away.

"I checked the windows because my windows cracked," he told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.

But for those in closer proximity, it was far worse. Wayne Sheppard, who lives next door, told CBS2's Christine Sloan that his house was completely demolished.

"I could hear my wife screaming; my son crying," Sheppard said.

"I came from the back of the house, and it's bad," he said. "We probably lost everything except each other."

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)